Blinded by Beauty Read online

  God, I hope he’s right and she’s okay.

  They continued down the path for what felt like an eternity. Finally, he and Jaris rounded the last corner where they’d left Kaylyn earlier.

  “Over here, guys.” Her voice sounded sweeter than anything he’d ever heard before in his life. “Just a few more feet. Where are the dogs?”

  “We don’t know,” Jaris said. “We thought they were with you. We heard a rifle shot.”

  “You heard that?” Kaylyn’s tone didn’t sit well with him.

  He reached out and touched her face. Sensing she was holding something back, his gut coiled into a knot of concern. “Kaylyn, are you okay?”

  “I’m okay, Chance.”

  He felt a tear on her cheek and stiffened. “What’s the matter?”

  “Don’t worry. I really am okay, but I have been shot.”

  Chapter Three

  “Where are you shot?” As Jaris knelt down in front of Kaylyn, he could smell the faint aroma of metal, which was a sure sign she was bleeding.

  “I promise you I’m okay.”

  “I’ll be the judge of that.” His experience on the force in Chicago kicked in. Blind or not, he needed to fully assess the situation. “Tell me where you are shot, Kaylyn.”

  “In my right leg. Chance, there’s a first aid kit in my glove box.”

  He could hear Chance walk over to the passenger door.

  Jaris ran his hand gently up Kaylyn’s leg and felt her thigh bleeding. “It’s a good thing you wore shorts today.”

  “It was such a beautiful morning, how could I not? I had no idea this was going to happen.”

  “None of us did.” From what he could tell, she was right that it wasn’t life threatening, but they did need to get the bleeding stopped. “Did you see the shooter?”

  “No, but I think whoever shot me was somewhere to the north of us, up the rise.”

  Chance returned with the kit. In a flash they had her wound cleaned and bandaged.

  “I’m going to see if I can get a signal to call Doc.” Chance would’ve made one helluva good cop. He definitely had the heart and mind for it even if he didn’t have the eyes.

  “I’ve tried to call out but haven’t been able to.” Kaylyn sounded so brave.

  “Sweetheart, I’ll walk a few steps away,” Chance said. “You know how the reception is out here. A few feet can make all the difference.”

  Jaris listened to his friend move off to the left.

  “Can you stand, Kaylyn?” He wanted to get her into the cab, since it offered a little bit of cover, though definitely not enough.

  “I think so.”

  He knew that the shooter might still be close.

  “Emmett, this is Chance. Kaylyn’s been shot.”

  “Jaris, I can’t believe he got a signal.”

  Thank God, he got through.

  As Chance continued telling Emmett about what was going on, Jaris ran through all the things they knew so far in his mind. It was obvious that whoever shot her wasn’t in the trucks that he and Chance had heard earlier. Those vehicles had been near the waterfall. The gunshot had happened before they had driven off. There didn’t seem to be a connection, but his days on the Chicago PD told him there might be.

  Chance returned. “Emmett was already on his way. He’s going to call Doc to head up here, too. Cody and Bryant are with the boys in town.”

  “Excellent. Let’s get her into the truck.”

  They helped Kaylyn to her feet, placing her in the backseat with her head in Chance’s lap and her feet in his, allowing her to elevate her wounded leg.

  They shut the doors, listening to every sound outside the vehicle. So far, there was no indication that the shooter was still around.

  “Did you see any trucks, Kaylyn?” Chance asked.

  “No. I haven’t seen anything or anyone. I’m so worried about the dogs, guys.” Her voice shook. “I heard them yelping and they haven’t come back. We need to go looking for them.”

  “No,” Jaris stated firmly. “Too big a risk. Someone shot you. They might still be out there.”

  “I’m betting it was a hunter.” Hearing her voice shake just a little revealed to him she wasn’t so sure.

  He thought about telling her what Emmett had told him earlier—that no one should be out this way—but decided against it. No need in worrying her more.

  “That might be true but clearly whoever it was is reckless.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “We need to get back to the ranch house so that we aren’t sitting ducks.”

  “And Kaylyn needs medical attention.” Chance sighed. “Walking is out of the question with the injury to her leg. Maybe we could try to carry her.”

  “No.” He knew what they had to do. “I’m driving.”

  “You’re what?” Kaylyn’s doubt was obvious in her tone.

  “Are you serious, buddy?” Chance didn’t seem sure his idea would work, although he clearly agreed they should get out of there fast.

  “Very.”

  “Emmett is headed our way.” Chance had a point, but Jaris knew in these kinds of situations, seconds mattered. Who knew when Emmett would show? “Shouldn’t we wait for him?”

  “No. We can do this, buddy.” He grabbed Kaylyn’s hand and squeezed. “It’s going to be okay.”

  She squeezed back. “Jaris, you haven’t forgotten you are blind, have you?”

  “Of course not, but I drove for years before I got shot.”

  Kaylyn touched his jaw with her fingers. “But you cannot see now. We should wait for Emmett. He’ll be here soon. I still think this was a freak accident and has nothing to do with Lunceford.”

  Hearing the bastard’s name made him want to protect her all the more. Sight or no sight, I’m going to get that psycho.

  He moved his hand down Kaylyn’s leg. “The bleeding seems to have stopped. Let’s get her in the front seat. She will be my eyes.”

  Kaylyn removed her fingers from his face. “Are you sure about this? We could just stay low in the truck until the Stones get here.”

  He could tell she was more nervous about the shooter than she was letting on.

  “Absolutely.” Her protection was all that mattered to him now.

  Quickly, they helped her into the passenger’s side and Chance returned to the back of the cab.

  He jumped into the driver’s seat, placing his hands on the steering wheel. “Kaylyn, do you have the keys?”

  “They’re still in the ignition.”

  Though it had been a long time since he’d been in this position in any vehicle, it felt familiar. Keeping his left hand on the wheel, he touched the key with his right hand. Like riding a bike—but driving a car? Either way, you never forget.

  He turned the key, and the truck’s engine roared to life. “Okay, Kaylyn. You ready?”

  “Yes, but let’s go slow. Deal?”

  “Sure.”

  Thankfully, Kaylyn’s truck had automatic transmission. It would make this trip easier, though in his sighted days he’d always preferred manual transmission.

  He put his foot on the brake and moved the gearshift down to what he felt was “drive.” “This is the right gear, Kaylyn?”

  “Perfect. You certainly still have the feel for driving.”

  “Okay, we’ve got to get turned around. Is there enough room here to do that?”

  “Yes. We’re parked on the side off of the road, so you’ve got room to do a U-turn. You’ll need to cut it sharp because there’s a slight drop-off on the other side of the road.”

  “Got it.” He moved his foot off the brake and to the gas pedal. He applied a little pressure to the accelerator and turned the wheel hard to the left.

  “That’s perfect, Jaris.” Kaylyn’s tone was shaky, which told him she was nervous about this.

  He wasn’t. With her as his guide he was confident they could drive all the way to California and back if necessary.

  He straightened out the wheel, realizing they’d made the
full turn. “Am I on the road now, Kaylyn?”

  “A little to the right and you’ll be lined up perfectly. You got it. This is so crazy.” Kaylyn laughed.

  “What’s so funny, sweetheart?” Chance asked, also laughing. “A blind chauffeur is all the rage these days, haven’t you heard?”

  “Maybe so, but I think once my leg is fixed up, we’ll leave the driving to me. Jaris, there’s a curve up ahead to the right.”

  “Sharp or slight?”

  “Slight. Start moving right…now. Perfect. Straighten it out. Excellent.”

  “How fast am I going?”

  “Ten miles an hour.”

  “Let’s kick it up a little.” He wanted to get clear of the danger and closer to where she could have her leg looked at by the doctor.

  “Okay. This is a pretty straight shot for a few miles.”

  “Tell me when we’re up to twenty.”

  They continued down the ranch road with Kaylyn giving directions and him driving for several minutes. It felt good to be behind the wheel again, even without his eyes. It felt normal.

  “There’s a truck headed our direction, guys.”

  “I recognize that engine,” Chance said. “That’s Emmett’s truck.”

  Jaris knew Chance was right, hearing the familiar sound of the engine up ahead. He removed his foot from the gas pedal and over to the brake, bringing the vehicle to a stop. “You’re right. It is Emmett’s truck,” Kaylyn said. “Lyle is in the passenger seat.”

  Jaris stiffened when he heard a second engine, following behind. “Do you recognize the other vehicle, Chance?” He reached into his pocket for his gun.

  “Nope.” His friend’s tone told him that he was wondering if the vehicle trailing Emmett could be one of the two trucks they’d heard earlier, too.

  And what about the shooter? The creep likely had driven onto the ranch as well.

  Things weren’t adding up.

  He was prepared to take off again if necessary. Kaylyn was his priority.

  Kaylyn sighed. “I can’t believe this.”

  Jaris gripped the steering wheel with one hand and the handle of his pistol with the other. “Believe what?”

  “It’s the ambulance, guys. Relax.”

  He let out a big breath of relief, letting go of his gun. “Good for Doc. That is excellent thinking.”

  “But I don’t need an ambulance.”

  “Let’s let Doc be the judge of that, sweetheart,” Chance said from the backseat. “He’s the one who’s been to medical school.”

  “Chance is right, Kaylyn. I’m sure Doc just wanted to have all the equipment he might need. After all, he doesn’t know how bad your wound is.”

  “Maybe so, but I still think the ambulance is overkill.”

  He heard the two vehicles come to a stop next to them.

  “Good grief,” Kaylyn said. “Mick, Doc’s brother, is driving the ambulance and Paris is sitting between him and Doc. They must think I’m dying. Here they all come running.”

  Chance got out of the cab of the truck, but Jaris stayed put, though he opened his door. Doc and Paris immediately went to work on Kaylyn, keeping her in her seat for the moment.

  “Miss Anderson, are you okay?” Lyle was obviously shaken. The guy clearly looked up to Kaylyn like she was his sister.

  “I’m fine, Lyle. Did the dogs show back up at the ranch?”

  “No.”

  Jaris found that odd.

  “Good God, Jaris,” Emmett said. “Were you driving?”

  He nodded. “And damn good, too. I think I’m ready for NASCAR.”

  Emmett, Mick, and Chance laughed, but all of their attention was really on what was going on in the passenger seat of Kaylyn’s truck. Was she okay? Until he heard Doc’s final assessment, he wouldn’t relax.

  As the medical duo checked Kaylyn’s vitals, Emmett and Mick, in low tones, asked questions about the shooting. He and Chance told them about the two trucks they’d heard and about the missing dogs.

  “I contacted Jason right after I got your call.” Emmett was one of those guys who kept his head under any kind of pressure. Good thing. The sheriff needed to investigate what went down up here. If they were lucky, Jason would apprehend the shooter before the bastard could get away. “He and Nicole should be here any minute. Mick, why don’t you and I check the perimeter in case the shooter followed them?”

  “You bet,” Doc’s brother said.

  One thing about Destiny, everyone stuck together when things got tough, and with Lunceford still on the loose, things had been really tough for everyone.

  Jaris leaned in closer to Kaylyn, listening to Doc and Paris take care of her. “Doc, how is she?”

  “Doing great. You and Chance did a fantastic job bandaging her wound. Very impressive.”

  “It looks to be just a flesh wound, Jaris,” Paris informed. “She’s going to be fine.”

  “I agree,” Doc said. “I still want to put her in the ambulance and get her back to the clinic. A few stitches and some antibiotics is all she’ll need. After that, I’m sure she’ll be as good as new.”

  “Ambulance?” Kaylyn obviously wasn’t keen on that idea. “Doc, I don’t need to ride to town in an ambulance.”

  “The bleeding has stopped but we don’t want to aggravate it and get it started again, Kaylyn.” Doc was a no-nonsense kind of guy, which he admired.

  Jaris placed his hand on Kaylyn’s shoulder. She’s safe. Thank God. “Sweetheart, do as Doc says.”

  Chapter Four

  Jaris just called me “sweetheart.” That’s a first. Kaylyn looked at him still seated behind the wheel of her truck. “No sense in arguing with you, is there?”

  “None,” the former cop said.

  “Chance, are you on his side on this?” How many times had she heard Chance call her “sweetheart”? Almost every day, but the word to him clearly only meant friendship.

  “You bet I am.”

  She smiled. “Since I’m so outnumbered, I guess I don’t have a choice.”

  They all helped her into the back of the ambulance and onto the stretcher.

  “Lyle and I will stay put until the sheriff arrives,” Emmett said. “We’ll find the guy who shot you, Kaylyn.”

  “Would you call to check to see if the four dogs returned to the ranch house, please?”

  “I already did.” He frowned. “I’m sorry, but there’s been no sign of them.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense.” Her eyes welled up with tears. “Those dogs are highly trained. Even if something got them off track and they couldn’t make it back to the truck they should’ve gone back to the ranch house.”

  “Amber will call me if they show up. Don’t forget, those dogs are all chipped. If they somehow make it to another county or town, someone will scan them I’m sure. We’ll have them back soon. Shane and Corey are with her and Belle making sure everything is okay.”

  “We better get going,” Paris said.

  She and Doc remained with her in the back, and Jaris and Chance went up to the front with Mick, who was going to drive the ambulance.

  As the vehicle began to move down the road, her mind started spinning.

  Please, God, let the dogs be okay.

  Where could they be? What happened to them? What was she going to do if they couldn’t be found? There were four people who would be arriving in Destiny soon who needed Rex, Blue, King, and Rosie.

  I just can’t figure this out.

  Doc continued examining her wound while Paris placed a blood pressure cuff on her left arm.

  I can’t believe I’ve been shot. Did this have anything to do with Kip Lunceford? Obviously it was something all of them were considering. But it didn’t make any sense. The psycho wanted Belle, not her. Why would he shoot me? Or have me shot?

  Chance and Jaris had been amazing through all of it, making sure she was okay and safe. She still couldn’t believe they’d made it all the way back to her truck on foot without the dogs. The ranch road wa
sn’t an easy walk for anyone, let alone guys who were blind.

  Chance never ceased to surprise her. He could do absolutely anything. Anyone looking on would’ve thought he had his sight. He’d acted quickly and without hesitation, checking to make sure she was okay, getting the first aid kit, dressing her wound, and so much more.

  The only thing he seems to be blind about is my feelings for him.

  Jaris had driven so well it had shocked her. Unlike Chance, who had been born blind, Jaris had lost his sight after being shot trying to save Nicole, his former partner. Before he’d come to work for her, she’d talked with Nicole about him. Nicole had told her that his doctors had said due to the type of injury he’d sustained, there was a very slim chance Jaris’s sight would return someday. Since learning that, Kaylyn had prayed every night it would.

  They were great men and her heroes. Without them she would’ve been in real trouble today.

  “120 over 72,” Paris told Doc.

  “Perfect.” Doc smiled down at her. “We’ll be in town shortly, Kaylyn. You’re doing great.”

  “Thanks to you and Paris.”

  “And to Chance and Jaris, too.” Paris winked. “They’re the heroes of the day.”

  “That’s for sure.” Kaylyn’s mind kept replaying Jaris calling her sweetheart. She wondered what he meant by it. Was it only the moment or something more? In her heart she wished it were the “something more.”

  Damn, Kaylyn. Don’t make more out of it than what it is.

  She’d misread signals once before and almost lost Chance for good.

  I will not make that mistake again.

  * * * *

  At the clinic, Chance held Kaylyn’s hand. Jaris stood on the other side of the bed, holding her other hand.

  “I wish Doc would hurry up and release me.”

  “You need to be patient, sweetheart.” Chance gently squeezed her fingers. He’d almost lost her today.

  God, what would I have done without her?

  “There’s only one wing of the clinic completed, guys.”

  “We both know that, sweetheart.” Chance realized she was trying to make an argument to be sprung early, but she was right. Lucas Wolfe and team had put a rush on the construction. There was more left to complete the entire project, but with this portion of the building done it gave the citizens of Destiny a modern high-tech place that they needed for their sick and injured.